Medway Longboat (1742) by gjdale - FINISHED - 1:24

[BobG]

The finish line is in sight, Grant!

[gjdale]

Progress has been slow but steady. Prior to installing the bowsprit, I added the foresail halyard. Then the bowsprit was added. In making the brass parts for this, I opted to pin the aft support both top and bottom by turning a 1 mm diameter pin at either end of the brass bar. This only required one re-do due to incorrect measurement of length. I again used heat shrink tubing to simulate the iron bands and am quite pleased with the way these look. Here are a few photos.

 

 

 

 

The traveller ring with hook and shackle was next, along with the jib halyard and outhaul. I just followed Chuck’s instructions here for the hook and shackle. While my shackle doesn’t look as nice as Chuck’s, I’m satisfied with it.

 

 

 

 

And here’s an overall shot at this point:

 

 

 

 

I have since added the Flag and some rope coils but won’t have photos of them until the final shoot.

 

In the meantime, I’ve been working on the oars. I began by putting the square stock in my lathe and rounding it off using sandpaper. Then I turned a small section thinner for the hand grip, using very light cuts with a cutting tool and finishing off the shaping with some sanding sticks. The oar blades were then attached and shaped using some soft sanding blocks to achieve both a taper and a slight curve.

 

Here you can see the effect of the taper and curve:

 

 

And here is a close-up of the turned handle:

 

 

The oars are currently in the paint shop receiving their livery colour. Once they are done, I have some final tidying up to do and the model will be finished. Next update will be completion shots.

[Chuck]

Beautiful.  You have done a really nice job with the model.  I do hope you enjoyed putting it together. 
 

 

[gjdale]

My Longboat is now complete! The finishing touches were applied today – some rope coils, the oars, grapnel and final fixing to the base. For added security, I used a 1/16” brass rod as a locator pin between the pedestal stands and the base, secured with epoxy. So here are the final photos. You will note the date on the stand says 2019….only two years late….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd like to thank you all for the kind comments and likes along the way, and a special thanks to Chuck for his ongoing support and advice throughout this build. Despite the false start and need to start over, I have enjoyed this little build immensely.

 

I'll see you for the next one...

[Nirvana]

Grant,

I have some words for you!

 

Neat!
Clean!

Tidy!

Amazing!

 

Think this model on a crystal clear stand with only description highlighted!

[Chuck]

That looks great.   A really nice longboat model.  I am so glad you enjoyed it.  Well done.

[rafine]

A wonderful job Grant. A great looking Longboat.

 

Bob

[Blue Ensign]

Well done Grant, a beautiful model. 👍

 

B.E.

[Ryland Craze]

Congratulations on finishing your Longboat.  It turned out really nice.

[JpR62]

Your longboat is really beautiful. Very nice work.

[Boatsinc2000]

Grant,  Congratulations on your build and retirement!   Great job and I thoroughly enjoyed your log.  Sorry to be a little late catching up. 

 

Jeff 

[JeffT]

Congratulations Grant. Very nicely done.

[Rustyj]

Excellent workmanship Grant. Truly a build to be proud of!  

[BobG]

Beautifully done, Grant! It's such a lovely model and you've done it justice for sure. I still admire mine whenever I walk by it. 

[gjdale]

Thank you one and all for the very kind comments and likes on the completion of my Longboat model.

 

Unfortunately, as I was setting up to take some "what's in the box?" photos for my new build, I knocked the camera and tripod over onto the Longboat. By a stroke of good luck, damage was minimal and relatively easily repaired - a little glue, a lick of touch up paint, and some re-tensioning of the rigging and all is good. No photos of before and after but rest assured all has been put to right. Just need to find a safer temporary place for the longboat until her permanent home is decided.

[BobG]

On 7/7/2021 at 9:26 PM, gjdale said:

By a stroke of good luck, damage was minimal and relatively easily repaired

 

Yikes, disaster avoided, Grant! You must be living right!!

[fnkershner]

Grant - I want to know about you seizings? I look closely at your photos, and they are very clean. and you have double seizing on each line. Very nice! I am right now finishing my main rigging and boom. I hope to finish the Gaff tomorrow. But I am trying to learn from others on the rigging. you photos are especially clean and very useful. thank you!

[gjdale]

Floyd,

 

Thanks for the kind comment on my seizings. There are many ways to do the seizing. The way I do them may not necessarily be correct, but they seem to look okay. I generally just use a simple series of overhand knots tied on alternate sides of the seizing. I start furthest from the block and work back towards the block, so that the seizing closes up the gap. I then put a dab of diluted PVA on the entire seizing and trim the ends once dry.

[fnkershner]

Grant it looks like you do maybe 3 wraps then a space and another 3 wraps. Do I have it right?

[gjdale]

FLoyd, I’m not sure what you are referring to here. If you’re talking about seizing of blocks and you are seeing gaps they are unintentional. If you are talking about securing the tail end of a shroud or stay, then there are two seizings with a space between them. I can’t remember how many “wraps” I used for each - just until it looked about right.